JACKSON - Police have arrested a 30-year-old Kim Court man they say hit a woman in the face while stealing her purse, then dragged her next to his car.

Nicholas Bonaccorso is facing robbery, assault, assault by auto and theft charges after police arrested him Sunday, according to a prepared statement from police Capt. Steven Laskiewicz.

The victim was buying lottery tickets at a Sunoco station on North Countyline Road in the early morning hours Saturday when Bonaccorso "grabbed a small wristlet purse from her," Laskiewicz said. The woman grabbed Bonaccorso to try to hang on to her purse, they both fell to the floor and he hit her "repeatedly in the head, face and upper body as he held onto the purse and attempted to leave the store."

Bonaccorso was able to get away with the purse but lost his hooded sweatshirt and hat in the struggle, police said. When he got into his car, she got in on the passenger side, trying to get her purse back.

Bonaccorso "then began to back the vehicle up and repeatedly struck the victim in the face as he tried to push her out of the car. He then accelerated forward and dragged the victim a short distance through the parking lot when she fell from the car," Laskiewicz said.

Bonaccorso made off with the purse which, together with the items inside, was worth more than $200, police said.

A witness gave police a partial plate number for the the car, and officers also watched surveillance footage of the robbery, police said. They recognized Bonaccorso "from previous encounters with him" and found that a family member of his had a car matching the one that left the scene, Laskiewicz said.

"The investigating officers checked several locations for the suspect but were unable to locate him," Laskiewicz said. "During this time, the officers also received information that the suspect had been contacting other people claiming he had robbed someone and needed their help."

Police tracked Bonaccorso down at the Hilton Gardens Hotel in Lakewood Sunday night and arrested him along with 33-year-old Jennifer Tayse of Toms River, who had an outstanding warrant in Jackson, police said.

Police released Tayse pending a court appearance and sent Bonaccorso to Ocean County Jail in Toms River, police said.